Table 1.

Reported forces on lumbar discs for different sporting activities

Activity	Force	Reporting authors
Walking speed (slow, preferred, fast speed)	2.28×, 2.53×, 2.95× body-weight compressive force L5/S1	Cheng [12]
Golf swing	6,100–7,500 N compressive force L3/4 (amateur and professional players)	Hosea et al. [27]
Rowing	6,100 N lumbar compressive forces	Hosea [26]
Rowing	4.6× body weight compressive force L4/5 (shear force L4/5: 660 ± 117 N)	Morris [46]
Half-squat exercises with weights 0.8–1.6× body weight	10× body weight compressive loads across L3/4 segment (70 kg person approx. 7,000 N)	Cappozzo [9]
Football linemen, blocking manoeuvres	>8,600 N peak compressive force 3,300 N average peak sagittal shear force L4/5 motion segment	Gatt [20]
Competitive weight-lifters	>17,000 N average compressive loads L4/5 motion segment	Cholewicki [13]